Apparatus for and method of making covered buttons



Nov. 26, 1957 K. SFENDEL; ET AL. 2,814,220

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING COVERED BUTTONS Fil ed June 21 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I IN VEN TOR.

Nov. 26, 1957 K. SPENDEL ETAL APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING COVERED BUTTONS Filed June 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent APPARATUS FOR AND lVIETHOD OF MAKING COVERED BUTTONS Kurt Spendel, Recklinghausen, and Rudolf Berning, Schwelm, Germany, assignors to Firrna Otto Bcrning & Co., Schwelm, Westphalia, Germany Application June 21, 1955, Serial No. 516,914

Claims priority, application Germany June 26, 1954 3 Claims. (Cl. 79-5) The present invention relates to a method of making covered buttons.

It is known to use in the manufacture of metal buttons which are covered with material merely a one-piece top member, in order to secure the patch of material spanned over the top member by means of the bottom member, in such manner that the margin portion of the patch of material which is wrapped over the top member is gripped by the bottom member. These known methods lend themselves, however, by means of the two members (bottom and top member), for the covering of such buttons with material, which have a convex, i. e. an outwardly calotte shaped, curved top member without any interrupting, groove-like or point-like cavities.

If it was necessary to cover a metal button, the surface of which had a profile, as projections and groove-like, circular cavities, respectively, it was possible only to make the metal top member of two pieces, namely of a ringpiece which was covered with material and a medium, the calotte-forming further piece, which was covered likewise with material. These pieces of the metal top member and their patches of material were gripped again by a single metal bottom member and pressed together including the margin portions of the material.

Even if this method was used, it was limited to certain predetermined profiles.

It has been further proposed to provide covered buttons which consist of a metal bottom member and of a single metal top member, in which the latter was of concave shape, namely curved inwardly. In this structure the top member consists, however, of a thin plate, for instance of an aluminum sheet, which could be pierced by a needle, so that upon sewing the button to a piece of clothing, the covering material is drawn into the concave space by means of the stitches. Even if it is disregarded that in such structure very thin top members can be used only, and, thereby, the button is of a low rigidity, the material does not engage the surface of the top member throughout, but only at the center of the center surface. Yet, it is impossible to manufacture buttons with profiled concave surface by this method.

It is further known to cover the upper surface of buttons, which are made of artificial resin material, pressed material or injection-molded material, directly during the forming process of the buttons with a sheet of material or the like, so that the sheet of material adheres securely to the base upon termination of the forming process.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a button in which the patch of material adheres to the base member, also to a metal button consisting of two members and in particular in such manner that no more steps are required than for the pressing together of the two members, in order to produce thereby also metal button of any profile with closely adhering covering material and which buttons consist of two members and have a single, concave-shaped top member.

Compared with previous methods for manufacturing ice metal buttons having a concave upper surface, not only a saving in material is brought about, but the manufacturing costs are appreciably reduced in the use of the present method. As a matter of fact, the manufacturing costs are not higher than experienced with buttons which have an outwardly calotte-shaped and non-profiled upper surface.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a button in which a patch of material is applied to its metal top member during the pressing step, the material securely adhering to its upper surface, and then the top member, while the margin portions of the material are wrapped around the said top member, is pressed on the metal bottom member.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a button in which, to achieve this end, the patch of material is provided with an adhesive layer or, in order to permit easier handling, particular adhesive sheets are provided which are disposed directly intermediate the patch of material and the upper face of the top member; which adhesive sheets may be equipped with an organic adhesive substance or with an artificial substance which adheres during heat pressing of the button.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a covered button in which the patch of material adheres by means of an adhesive sheet and in which, for the manufacture of such button, a spring-biased sleeve having centering recesses for the adhesive sheet is provided, which sleeve is guided on the pressing die.

All buttons manufactured in this manner in accordance with the present invention and comprising a single top member and a single bottom member, regardless of the profile of said members, have an adhesive layer which is disposed between the top member and the patch of material covering said top member.

It is yet another object of the present invention to apply the method of making covered buttons for material which is delicate and breaks through and to prevent smooth material, which does not adhere very well to the top member, from loosening from the upper face of the top member, for instance during washing, particularly if the top member has a concave upper surface, by covering the patch of material with a formable supporting body, which after the pressing step supports the material closely to the top member of the button.

It is, therefore, yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of making covered buttons, which comprises the steps of covering the top member of the button at first merely with a patch of material, of disposing a disc of thermoplastic material over the patch of material, of pressing the top member by means of a profiled lower die towards a heated pressing die, and then of pressing, while the margin portions of the patch of material and of the disc are wrapped around the upper member, onto the bottom member. In this manner it is possible to press any button shape, particularly also hollowed, profiled top members, to the upper surface of which the material adheres closely, whereby the preferably transparent, thermoplastic material protects the covering material from damage and soiling during use of the button.

This method can be performed easily and without using expensive tools. In accordance with the present invention the pressing material, which is used as an upper die, is alternately pressed against a heating plate and a pressure core. In this manner, the pressing die is heated during the first phase of the working stroke, while in its second phase the formed, cooling work-piece is pressed onto the bottom member of the button.

The button, manufactured in accordance with this method, has the characteristic that the disc, which covers the top member of the button, as well as the margin portion of the patch of material, consists of material which may be plastically formed upon heating and elastically hardened upon cooling thereof. This material assists in bringing out the fine lines during the pressing step and brings about a strict adherence, particularly since the margin portion of the disc is drawn into the upsetting edge of the connection of the respective members.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded elevational view of the elements used in the manufacture of one embodiment of the button;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the assembled button, shown in an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is an axial section of the pressing device;

Fig. 4 is an axial section of the assembly device;

Figs. 5a to 5g show elevations in section of different profiles of a top member of the button;

Fig. 5h is a top plan view of the top member of the button shown in Fig. 5g;

Fig. 6 is an exploded elevational view of the elements used in the manufacture of another embodiment of the button;

Figs. 7a to 70 are top plan views of the upper three elements shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 7d is a bottom plan view of the lowermost element shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an axial section of the pressing device;

Fig. 9 is an axial section of the assembly device; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the assembled button in an enlarged scale.

In the manufacture of the button of both embodiments a single top member 1 and a single bottom member 2, as well as a patch of material 4 is required.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. 1 to 5k, in which the first embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, an adhesive sheet 3 is provided in addition to the elements 1, 2 and 4. The top member 1 has a convex surface S, which has no cavities or projections. This top member 1 is mounted on the press die 6 (Fig. 3), and the working surface is formed in accordance with the desired profile of the finished button.

The press die 6 is surrounded by a sleeve 7 which is movable in axial direction of the press die 6 and biased by a helical spring 8. The sleeve 7 has a circular recess of a diameter x and upon forming a shoulder 7 a recess of a smaller diameter y. The patch of material 4 rests on the shoulder 7. The adhesive sheet 3 is disposed in the recess of the diameter y of the sleeve 7 just below the patch of material 4.

The upper die 9 is formed complementary to the press die 6 and reciprocates in a sleeve 10 the lower end face of which is designed as holding member 10.

If now the head 11 of a spindle press is pushed downwardly in the direction of the arrow 12, the sleeve 10 enters the upper recess of the diameter x of the sleeve 7 and presses the latter downwardly against the force of the spring 8.

By this operation, the top member 1 is formed to the shape of the surface of the press die 6 and simultaneously is the patch of material 4 applied to the top member 1 by means of the adhesive sheet 3, whereby the patch of material 4 follows all projections and cavities of the press die 6 and adheres to the top member 1 throughout its entire surface. Then-the upper die 9 performs together with the sleeve 10 the return stroke in upward direction. The upperdie 9 carries the top member 1 which is now formed together with the adhering patch of material 4 during its upward movement (Fig. 4). The bottom member 2 is then connected with the top member in known manner by means of the tool 13 and in particular in such manner that the sleeve 10 is brought into engagingposi- ,tion with the tool 13 whereby the holding device or centering edge 10' overlaps the upper end face of the tool 13. The upper die 9 is then moved downwardly by means of the press spindle 18 and pushes the formed top member with the adhesive sheet 3 and the patch of material 4 into the hopper 19 of the tool 13 and joins the top member 1 with the bottom member 2 While simultaneously clamping the marginal portions of the sheet 3 and of the patch of material 4 (Fig. 4).

Upon separation of the upper sleeve 10 from the lower tool 13, the finished button is released. The pressing process in combination with the simultaneous and complementary forming of the sheet 3 and the material 4 brings about a complete adherence of the covering material, whereby all fine joints in the pressing are maintained.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 10, in which the second embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, a thin, preferably transparent disc 20 of thermoplastic rartificial material is used instead of the adhesive sheet 3.

The top member 1 has again only a smooth, upwardly drawn base 5.

It is mounted on the press die 6 (Fig. 8) which is again surrounded by a sleeve 7 on the shoulder face 7' of which rests the patch of material 4 and thereabove the disc 20.

The upper tool comprises again a sleeve 10. The lower end face is designed as holding member 10'. The upper die 9 is disposed in the sleeve 10 and engages a heating plate 17. If the upper die 9 and the lower press die 6 are moved toward each other, the sleeve 7 is pushed downwardly and the press die 6 moves together with the top member 1 of the button, but also with the disc 20 and the patch of material into the upper sleeve 10, where at the end of the upward stroke the pressing of the top member 1 and the corresponding forming of the disc 20 takes place by means of the hot upper die 9. Thereafter the upper die 9 performs again its downward stroke, during which movement the workpiece sits below the said die 9.

For the assembly of the top member 1 with the bottom member 2, the upper sleeve 10 cooperates now with another lower tool 13 on the die of which rests the bottom member 2 and the top member 1 cools off in this position. The joining of the top member 1 with the bottom member 2 is achieved in the same manner as in the first embodiment of the present invention, the only difference being that now the disc 20 and the patch of material 4 are clamped at their margin portions (Fig. 10).

.It depends entirely upon the upper face of the pressure die 6 what surface shape thefinished button receives, as may be ascertained from the different top members 1', 1 1 1 1 1 and 1", respectively (Figs. 5a to 511). Thus, grate-like ribs may be produced, as shown in Figs. 5g and 5h.

The disc 20 may be made of material bearing a design, or which is transparent or colored or to which a layer has been applied.

The present method may be extended also to the manufacture of metal buckles, the surfaces of which receive thereby, without additional costs, a concave, profiled appearance.

While I have disclosed two embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined by the objects and the claims.

We claim:

1. A method of making covered metal buttons, which comprise a single metal top member having an initial convex shape and a finished concave shape and a single metal bottom member, comprising the steps of applying a patch of material by means of a thermoplastic, adhesive sheet to said single metal top member during its pressing transformation from its convex shape to its concave shapeand joining said metal top member with said metal bottom member simultaneously clamping the edge portion of said patch of material therebetween.

2. An apparatus for making covered buttons including a top member and a bottom member comprising an upper die and a lower press die, the upper surface of said press die being shaped in accordance with the shape of the button to be made, and a spring biased sleeve axially movable relative to said lower press die, said sleeve having centering recesses forming a shoulder therebetween, and said shoulder being adapted to support an adhesive sheet and a patch of material disposed thereabove, and a press spindle having a head including a heating plate and means for alternate engagement of said upper die with said heating plate and said press spindle. 3. An apparatus for making covered buttons including a top member and a bottom member comprising a press including an upper die and a first lower die exchangeably mounted and axially movable in said press, the said upper and lower dies having complementary surfaces in accordance with the shape of said top member of the button to be made and said lower die being replaced after completion of the pressing step for the said upper die with a second lower die having a recess complementary with said bottom member in order to receive the latter and to join said top member with said bottom member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,486,309 Sparer et a1. Mar. 11, 1924 1,524,157 Sparer et al. Jan. 27, 1925 1,975,139 Drucker et al. Oct. 2, 1934 2,304,663 Smith et al. Dec. 8, 1942 2,520,351 Wolff Aug. 29, 1950 2,674,771 Novick Apr. 13, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 485,446 Great Britain May 19, 1938 1,038,451 France May 6, 1953 

